Four U.S. Destinations Standout by Achieving Mountain IDEAL Sustainable Certification

Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail, and Park City have announced their Mountain IDEAL certification as sustainable destinations. By completing the certification in 2024, these four destinations stand out as industry leaders who have reached a significant milestone toward a more sustainable destination for visitors and residents.  

The Mountain IDEAL Certification adheres to a strict procedure defined by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and highlights a destination’s work in sustainable growth, environmental preservation, and community engagement. The third-party certification audit was conducted by Green Destinations, and includes more than 150 implementation guidelines of the Mountain IDEAL standard.

Vail, Colo., who first piloted the Mountain IDEAL certification in 2016, renewed their third certification in early 2024.  Vail, Colorado’s most recent Mountain IDEAL certification highlights impressive progress in destination stewardship. The town’s Attraction Protection Plan and Restore the Gore initiative exemplify data-driven efforts to monitor visitor impacts and restore Gore Creek’s ecological health. In a bold move to protect bighorn sheep habitat, Vail invested $17.5M to preserve 23 acres of land originally slated for housing development. To offset the housing capacity lost through this conservation action, the town advanced 633 deed-restricted units in less sensitive areas—balancing environmental protection with community housing needs.

Breckenridge, Colo. was another early adopter of Mountain IDEAL and completed their second certification in 2024. Breckenridge, Colorado’s Mountain IDEAL certification reflects a deep commitment to environmental and community sustainability. The town is advancing toward 100% renewable electricity through regional clean energy purchases and partnerships with Xcel Energy. Investments in electric fleet vehicles and expanded free public transit support low-emission mobility. Community engagement is strong through sustainability workshops and the SustainableBreck Business Certification. Breckenridge also prioritizes inclusion with ADA-accessible trails and park upgrades, ensuring outdoor recreation is welcoming and available to all residents and visitors.

Aspen, Colo. completed its multi-year certification process in 2024, a culmination of years of leadership, community engagement, and implementing leading environmental and sustainability programs and initiatives that successfully represented the needs of residents and visitors. For Aspen, this included implementing the Capacity, Compression, and Comfort Calendar designed to encourage visitor traffic year-round and working with partners like the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority (APCHA) to ensure long-term affordability for local workers. 

Expanding outside of Colorado, Park City, Utah has become the only destination in Utah to receive the Mountain IDEAL certification. After a significant rebrand, the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau wanted to embody their messaging of Mountainkind for the Park City community. Living out this messaging included promoting the use of publication transportation to trail access and taking actions to support their commitment to net-zero carbon by 2023, both of which were highlighted as part of the certification program.

“Mountain IDEAL certification represents the gold standard for sustainable destinations,” shared Bobby Chappell, Program Architect for Mountain IDEAL and Green Destinations board member. “It's a rigorous, comprehensive process that demands genuine commitment and tangible action from communities.”

To learn more about the certification process and the value for destinations and visitors, we’ll be hosting a free learning series in 2025. Destinations are also encouraged to follow us Linked In for updates, news, and impactful examples of sustainable destination management. 

About Mountain IDEAL

Mountain IDEAL is a destination stewardship program specifically designed for resort, rural, recreation, and gateway communities. Understanding the nuanced challenges and opportunities inherent to outdoor locales, Mountain IDEAL's mission is to provide a comprehensive framework that facilitates stewardship and sustainability improvements through self-assessments, implementation toolkits, and recognition programs.

The Mountain IDEAL program is collaboratively administered by Walking Mountains, a leading environmental educational non-profit organization that fosters stewardship through education, science and sustainability in Eagle County, Colorado and Tourism Impact Services, a strategic planning and implementation firm helping destinations plan for resilience, scale destination stewardship, and enhance accessible experiences. Recognition programs such as Top 100 Sustainability Stories Award and Accredited Third-Party Certification, are offered in partnership with Green Destinations.